Vet. Science Boosts Medical Device Sector
In a February 2011 Innovation Initiative whitepaper, the FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) proposed actions it could take “to help accelerate and reduce the cost of development and regulatory evaluation of innovative medical devices safely and based on sound science.”
The CDRH’s proposed actions include strengthening medical device research infrastructure in the United States and promoting high-quality regulatory science for medical devices. We feel strongly that this focus on medical device research infrastructure should include a comparative perspective that draws on the expertise of veterinary clinician-scientists.
Medical Translation
Veterinarians have long contributed to the development of new medical devices for humans and animals by performing foundational research, driving cross-disciplinary collaboration and promoting innovative methodologies.
New England’s only veterinary school — the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University — each year participates in research that helps bring medical devices and drugs to the human and veterinary markets.
For example, a recent design for a total elbow replacement device for dogs, the TATE elbow (named after the dog of inventor-veterinarian Dr. Randy Acker), introduced a “cartridge” concept that is being applied to development of joint prostheses for humans. A modified hip prosthesis that was developed for dogs who suffer from hip disease is being introduced in Europe for humans.
Veterinary cardiologists at the Tufts Cummings School are likewise sought by industry and government sponsors for their expertise in the development and refinement of cardiovascular devices and the investigation of heart disease. These interests are pursued to the benefit of animals and humans by studying spontaneously occurring afflictions of dogs and cats such as cardiomyopathies and valvular heart disease.
Collaborative Opportunities
As reported by the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC), Massachusetts has the second-largest concentration of medical device manufacturing and development in the nation. We are pleased that thought leaders in MassMEDIC recognize the value of veterinary partnerships and chose to host a recent meeting of the council on our Grafton campus.
Strengthening medical device research infrastructure in the United States through the CDRH Innovation Initiative should include increased attention to collaborations between medical and veterinary colleagues.
With the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine as a partner, this could include medical device design and development with faculty members, contract research for collection of supportive data, incubation of medical device startup companies in the Tufts Biotechnology Transfer Center or location of life sciences/device businesses in Grafton Science Park on the Tufts campus.
Millions of patients each year benefit from innovative medical devices and we welcome the opportunity to work with our physician colleagues to advance that number.
There is much to be gained for people and animals in the process.
Deborah T. Kochevar is the dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary
Medicine of Tufts University in North Grafton. She can be reached at deborah.kochevar@tufts.edu.
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